Wolfpack Makes the Cut With Abrams-Ward

Steve Williams

03/08/2007

RALEIGH, N.C. -- E.J. Abrams-Ward already boasts over a half dozen of scholarship offers with NC State making his early list of favorites. Pack Pride has the latest.

Thomasville (NC) High School has been one of the state's perennial powerhouse
programs. This past year they claimed their third consecutive 1-AA state
championship after a perfect 16-0 season. One of the key components of that
undefeated run was QB/LB EJ Abrams-Ward.

With offers on the table from NC State, UNC, Clemson, Tennessee, Wake Forest,
East Carolina, South Carolina and Clemson, Abrams-Ward has emerged as one of the
state's most sought-after prospects. Initially, it appeared the rising senior
was destined for linebacker in college but after missing six games due to a back
injury in 2006, Abrams-Ward returned at quarterback for Thomasville and played well. He
finished off the year by completing 29 of 47 passes for 596 yards and six
touchdowns. Whatever the position, Abrams-Ward told Pack Pride recently he takes
a team-first approach.

"I'm more of a team player," he said. "Where ever you need me and I can make
an impact, that's where I'll play. As far as linebacker, it's just a few steps and hit
who has the ball. With quarterback, you've got to have awareness, agility and everything
just comes at once. So I would say as far as natural ability, I think I'm better
at QB."

At 6-5, 210 pounds, Abrams-Ward certainly has the size to excel at
quarterback or linebacker. Because of that versatility and natural ability, he
has a long list of schools from which to choose. For now, he has six programs
he's keeping a watchful eye on.

"Some of the main schools I'm looking at right now is Clemson, South
Carolina, Tennessee, East Carolina, UNC and NC State," said Abrams-Ward.
"There's some other schools looking at me like Notre Dame and Boston College so
I'm just trying to keep an open mind and see what comes my way."

While Abrams-Ward reports an offer from the Wolfpack, it doesn't appear State
has pulled out all the stops to land him just yet. While he passed on a chance
to see State in person at Junior Day this past weekend, Abrams-Ward said he's
still looking forward to learning more about the program.

"State got a new coach so I want to get to know them more and see more of
what they're about," said Abrams-Ward. "Also, what position they like me to
play. I want to see how they're going to come together as a program. They have been
sending mail and talking to my head coach every now and then. I'm staying in
touch with them."